At least 12 classrooms have been handed over to Ntungamo district by contractors and commissioned for use despite protest by school management bodies over lack of involvement in execution of contracts and priority setting.
The classrooms constructed under the World Bank funded UGIFT program of the Ministry of education were handed over on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week by different contractors. District officials commissioned the classroom buildings for use.
Commissioning classrooms at Kiyoora primary school on Friday, the Ntungamo district chairman Mr Samuel Mucunguzi castigated the ministry of education for drawing structural plans and providing bills of quantities for development of the classrooms without involving the district which at times affect the contracts performance.
His comments followed protest by parents, school management and other stakeholders on contract execution and classrooms not constructed despite being promised.
Mr Henry Tumwebaze, the Kiyoora Primary school management chairperson said his committee and the school administration are just taken for granted and only remain at the receiving end.
Classrooms were constructed at Kiyoora, Kahija and Katojo primary schools.
The NUATU construction company engineer Mr Aaron Nuwamanya said key structural elements are normally eliminated from the structural plans and bills of quantities which make construction more expensive than originally thought.
The district has been constructing at least 20 classrooms every financial year for the past three years courtesy of different government programs however over 500 classrooms are needed by 2025 if the surging numbers are to be accommodated in schools.
